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Pegylated interferon (PEG-interferon) and ribavirin are accepted treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, HCV infection progresses differently in patients who are coinfected with HIV and in hemophiliacs. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of PEG-interferon and ribavirin for treating HCV in HIV infected hemophiliacs.

A Prospective Multicenter, Phase II, Open Label, Controlled Trial Evaluating the Response of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) to Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2A and Ribavirin in Hemophilic Patients With and Without Coinfection With the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Further study details as provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):

Estimated Enrollment:

22

Study Start Date:

March 2002

Estimated Study Completion Date:

June 2005

Detailed Description:

Hemophiliacs with symptomatic disease often receive blood products to correct clotting factor deficiencies. Prior to routine use of heat inactivation and screening of donor blood for specific viral pathogens, hemophiliacs were routinely exposed to, and infected with, viruses such as hepatitis B (HBV), HCV, and HIV. Studies in hemophiliacs suggest several important findings that warrant further investigation, including: 1) hemophiliacs infected with HCV may have more rapid progression to liver failure and death; 2) pooled blood concentrate from multiple donors leads to a high risk of mixed infection; and 3) different clinical outcomes and altered immune responses of HIV coinfected hemophiliacs may enhance understanding of mutant virus selection and the associated clinical outcomes. The purpose of this trial is to determine response rates to PEG-interferon and ribavirin in hemophiliacs with HCV alone and with HCV/HIV coinfection.

Participants in this study will be followed for 48 weeks on treatment and up to 36 months after treatment. Participants in this study will be admitted to the Clinical Research Center for 2 days at the beginning of the study. Participants will have 3 additional study visits in the first week of the study. After that, study visits occur at Weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48. The follow-up visits will be at 4, 12, and 24 weeks following the end of treatment. Study visits include a physical exam and blood tests. Patients who do not respond to treatment will be followed in a prospective cohort study for up to 3 additional years so that evolution of the virus and associated immune responses can be evaluated.

Eligibility

Information from the National Library of Medicine

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Ages Eligible for Study:

15 Years and older (Child, Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Hemophilia A or B

Exposure to blood or blood products prior to 1987

Participating in "The Second Multicenter Hemophilia Cohort Study (MHCS-II)"

HCV reactive by second/third generation ELISA assay and/or RIBA

HCV RNA positive (PCR or bDNA methods)

Chronic hepatitis confirmed by liver biopsy within 6 months prior to study entry (Note: cirrhosis is not an exclusion factor)

HIV infection for coinfected group; HIV viral load of 10,000 copies/ml or less

If on antiretroviral drugs, stable regimen for at least 8 weeks prior to study entry

Acceptable methods of contraception

Exclusion Criteria

Hemoglobin less than 10 g/dl

For HIV coinfected group, CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3 at time of screening visit

Life-threatening disease processes that could preclude completion of trial

Alcohol abuse that the local investigator feels would interfere with compliance

Illicit recreational drug use or methadone use within 6 months of study entry

Major depression with hospitalization or suicide attempt is a relative, but not absolute, contraindication to therapy based on timing, circumstances, and current stability as assessed by the investigator

Pregnant or breastfeeding

Contacts and Locations

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00055341